“Only because it bothered my fiancée.” His chest rose and fell. “I find it odd, frankly, that people who hold themselves in such high esteem can be so inconsiderate to one of their own.”
“Not all of us are badly behaved, Mr. Harlow.”
An easy smile appeared. “No, not all,” he said. “In any case, it’s something the lass will have to get used to.”
Louisa smiled also. “I doubt it, sir, for we are as fickle as we are inconsiderate. It will soon become passé, and people will lose interest. Once Miss Chessington has settled into the manor, I’ll be happy to introduce her to all the region has to offer, including Francesca’s wonderful shop in Knaresborough. Shopping, I find, is one of the best tonics forennui.”
The smile almost appeared again. “That is very kind of you, Miss Northcott.”
The music ended, and Maxwell Harlow released Louisa back into the reality of her life. She curtseyed in response to his bow, her fingers still bearing the warmth of his, even as her magical sense of joy had already cooled. The moment had come and gone. She doubted there would be another.
“It has been a pleasure, Miss Northcott,” he said, escorting her from the dance floor.
“For me also,” she replied, with more honesty than he would ever know. “Thank you, Mr. Harlow.”
Almost immediately, Sybella Chessington swooped in like a bird of prey and clung onto Maxell’s right arm. “I’m thirsty, Maxwell,” she said, and dragged him away.
“She’s jealous.” Julian fell into step beside Louisa. “Couldn’t keep her eyes off the both of you the entire dance.”
Louisa huffed. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I’m not, and I think you know it.” He gave her a sideways glance. “Given that you’re looking so bloody pleased with yourself.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She looped her arm through his. “Did Miss Chessington say anything?”
“About what?”
She shrugged. “About moving into the manor. I don’t think she’s too keen on the idea.”
“No, she isn’t,” Julian replied.
“She told you that?”
“Alluded to it. She said, given a choice, she’d prefer to stay at this end of the country. I get the impression, however, that Harlow’s not prepared to give her a choice. And quite right too, given his business interests.”
Louisa pondered. “But if she’s unhappy, it won’t be pleasant for either of them.”
“That’s for them to sort out.” Julian signaled to a footman who was passing by with a tray of drinks. “Are you thirsty, Lou?”
A short while later, thirst quenched, Louisa took to the dance floor twice more, with two different gentlemen who, though pleasant, left her decidedly unimpressed.
Then Mr. Barclay reappeared. The dance, this time, was a quadrille, another not ideally suited to discourse. Instead, Louisa surreptitiously studied the man who, of all those she’d met so far, impressed her the most. With the exception of one other, of course.
James Barclay really was quite charming. He stood as tall as Maxwell and danced equally as well. His blue eyes had a gentleness to them, and his mouth, when he wasn’t speaking, always seemed to be on the verge of a smile.
He was, she conceded, just about perfect. Yet, for whatever reason, her heart chose to ignore him. While in his presence, it simply carried on with its usual rhythm, stoked merely by physical activity rather than by an intangible force. Certainly, the gentleman was better for her stomach, which, like her heart, remained noticeably quiet. Not a flutter to be felt.
Maybe their acquaintance needed cultivating. A chance to develop and strengthen over time. Should Mr. Barclay express a wish to call on her, Louisa would, she decided, allow him the opportunity to do so. Certainly, he gave the impression of being interested, for when the dance was over, he led her from the dance floor, thanking her with a delicate kiss on the back of her hand.
“I do believe you have found a potential suitor in Mr. Barclay, Louisa,” her mother said, a short while later. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he calls on you in the next day or two. Do you like him?”
“I do, Mama,” she replied, sounding more convincing than she felt. “He’s very nice.”
Her mother heaved a distinctly relieved sigh. “Oh, I’m so glad to hear it. I’ve already made some discreet enquiries. Apparently, he’s just completed his apprenticeship as a solicitor and is going into partnership with another gentlemen in Brighton this summer. Brighton! Can you imagine it, Louisa? The sea air will be wonderful.”
A different kind of flutter arose in Louisa’s stomach. “He hasn’t proposed yet, Mama.”
Her mother waved a hand. “I suspect it’s just a matter of time, my darling. Oh, I had a feeling about this Season. Something told me it was going to be a successful one. Your father will be delighted as well. Do you know where he is?”
